Miniature rose plant named ‘Meiludoca’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Miniature rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive bronze colored blossoms. Such blossoming commonly begins early in the season. A bushy growth habit is displayed that is well adapted for pot culture. The dense semi-glossy green foliage contracts nicely with the bronze colored blossom coloration. The tolerance to disease is good, particularly with respect to Oidium.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Miniature Rose Plant.

Vareital denomination: cv. Meiludoca.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Miniature rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was the ‘Meichanso’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Meichanso’ variety is marketed under the PARADOR trademark. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Delpo’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Savalife’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,482). The ‘Delpo’ variety is marketed under the DIABLOTIN trademark and the ‘Savalife’ variety is marketed under the RAINBOW'S END trademark. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Meichanso’×(‘Delpo’×‘Savalife’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Miniature rose plant of the present invention displays the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit that is well adapted for pot         culture,     -   (b) abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis         attractive bronze colored blossoms, and     -   (c) forms attractive dense semi-glossy green foliage.

The new variety flowers early and well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It is particularly well suited for growing in pots as well as in the landscape. For instance, it can be grown to advantage along walkways and in mixed border plantings. The semi-glossy green foliage contrasts well with the bronze colored blossom coloration.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. The flower coloration is different in each instance. More specifically, the ‘Meichanso’ variety forms geranium red flowers, the ‘Delpo’ variety forms light red flowers, and the ‘Savalife’ variety forms yellow flowers that are margined with red.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in the South of France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiludoca’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observed during April while growing outdoors on their own roots at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters as well as a color comparison are shown at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower during the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets—plan view—upper surface (left) and—under surface (right);

FIG. 15—illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets—plan view—under surface (left) and—upper surface (right);

FIG. 16—illustrates specimens of leaves with seven leaflets—plan view—under surface (left) and—upper surface (right); and

FIG. 17—illustrates a cluster of buds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of specimens of the new variety at an age of approximately one year which were observed during April while growing on their own roots outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Miniature. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Bushy.         -   Height.—Commonly approximately 30 to 35 cm on average.         -   Width.—Commonly approximately 25 to 30 cm on average. -   Branches:     -   -   Length.—Commonly approximately 23 to 27 cm on average.         -   Diameter.—Commonly approximately 8 mm on average.         -   Color.—Young stems: near Green Group 143B. adult wood: near             Green Group 137A.         -   Thorns.—Size and quantity: on young stems approximately 5 on             average having a length of approximately 0.4 cm on average             over a length of 10 cm, and on adult stems approximately 14             on average having a length of approximately 0.8 cm on             average over a length of 18 cm. color: on young stems near             Greyed-Orange Group 166D, and on adult stems near             Greyed-Orange Group 174A. configuration: on young stems             curved downwards and very longish pointed on the upper             surface and hooked on the under surface with a narrow and             short base, and on adult stems substantially upright and             very longish pointed and slightly concave on the under             surface with a narrow and short base. -   Leaves:     -   -   Petioles.—Upper surface: non-glandular, and near Green Group             137D in coloration. under surface: commonly without             prickles, and near Yellow-Green Group 14D in coloration.             size: approximately 2.6 cm in length on average and             approximately 1 mm in diameter on average on the terminal             leaflet.         -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Red Group 46A in coloration.             under surface: smooth, and near Yellow-Green Group 146D in             coloration. size: approximately 2.9 cm in length on average             and approximately 0.5 mm in diameter.         -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, narrow, approximately 1.7 cm in             length on average, approximately 0.4 cm in width on average,             near Green Group 143B on the upper surface, and near Green             Group 141C on the under surface.         -   Leaflets.—Number: commonly 3 and 5. shape: oval, with an             elongated pointed tip and a rounded base (as illustrated).             texture: rather thick. serration: small and single. general             appearance: dense and semi-glossy. size: terminal leaflets             commonly measure approximately 3.6 cm in length on average             and approximately 2 cm in width on average. color (young             foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 143A. under             surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B. color (mature             foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 137A. under             surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C. -   Inflorescence     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly 1 flower per stem.         -   Peduncle.—Pubescent, near Greyed-Red Group 181A with             Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration, approximately 5 cm in             length on average, and approximately 0.2 cm in diameter on             average.         -   Sepals.—Number: five. upper surface: smooth, and near             Greyed-Red Group 181B with Yellow-Green Group 148B in             coloration. under surface: tomentose, and near Green Group             141C in coloration. shape: longish-pointed and narrow at the             tip, and commonly three sepals bear some weak foliaceous             extensions having lengths of up to approximately 7 mm.             length: approximately 3 cm on average. width: approximately             0.7 cm on average.         -   Buds.—Shape: globular. size: approximately 2 cm in length on             average, and approximately 1.8 cm in width on average.             color: as the calyx breaks on the upper surface near             Orange-Red Group 30B, and on the under surface near             Yellow-Orange Group 23C and suffused with near Orange Group             25B and Orange-Red Group 33B.         -   Flower.—Form: cup-shaped. diameter: commonly approximately 5             cm on average when fully open. depth: commonly approximately             2.4 cm on average when fully open. color (during the course             of opening): upper surface: near Orange Group 28A suffused             with near Orange Group 28B, and with a small spot of near             Yellow Group 5A at the base. under surface: near Orange             Group 23B, suffused with near Orange Group 29A and near             Orange-Red Group 33B, and with a small spot of Yellow Group             3A at the base. color (when open): upper surface: near             Orange-Red Group 31A and slightly veined with Yellow-Orange             Group 23C, and with a small spot of Yellow Group 5A at the             base. under surface. near Yellow-Orange Group 21C amply             suffused with Orange Group 26C, and with a small spot of             Yellow Group 3A at the base. fragrance: none. anthers: near             Yellow-Orange Group 17A in coloration, regularly arranged             around the styles, and approximately 0.3 cm in length on             average. stamen number: approximately 147 on average.             filaments: near Yellow Group 2C in coloration, and             approximately 0.5 cm in length on average. pollen: present.             pistil number: approximately 113 on average. stigmas: near             Yellow Group 2D in coloration, and approximately 0.2 cm in             diameter on average. styles: near Green-Yellow Group 150D in             coloration, and approximately 0.4 cm in length. petal             number: approximately 26 on average under normal growing             conditions. petal arrangement: imbricated. petal shape: with             a rounded tip and a rounded base. petal margin: commonly             reflexed. petal size: commonly approximately 2.9 cm in             length on average, and approximately 3 cm in width on             average. petal texture: rather thick. petal drop: good, the             petals commonly detach cleanly before drying. petaloids:             small in size and commonly present towards the blossom             center. receptacle: commonly smooth, near Yellow Group 143B             in coloration, and pitcher-shaped in cross section,             approximately 0.8 cm in length on average, and approximately             0.4 cm in width on average. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Medium strong.         -   Blooming.—Very early, abundant, and substantially             continuous.         -   Tolerance to diseases.—Good, especially with respect to             Oidium. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Miniature rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit that is well adapted for pot culture, (b) abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive bronze colored blossoms, and (c) forms attractive dense semi-glossy green foliage; substantially as herein shown and described. 